Innovative library services “in the wild”

Our new report takes a close look not only at how Americans are using public libraries, but also what sort of services and programming they think libraries should offer — and what they say they would use in the future.

For this last point, we asked about a range of potential offerings, including online “ask a librarian”-type research service, mobile library apps, library kiosks in the community, and pre-loaded e-readers available for checkout. A breakdown of these ideas’ overall popularity is included below; more information is included in the report, and tables with demographic breakdowns for each item can be found in the appendix.

But we also wanted to include illustrations of some of these more innovative services, to see what they look like on the ground. To that end, we’ve collected examples of many of the types of services mentioned in the report, as well as some “fun and funky” services that we’ve seen pop up at libraries across the county.

We’ll keep updating the list with new examples as we hear about them. Does your library have a neat service we should know about? Send us an email and let us know! And many thanks to everyone who has sent in examples so far.

Examples of services discussed in the report

Technology “Petting Zoo”

The Kent Free Library in Ohio “has hosted ‘Technology Petting Zoos’ to give patrons and community members a chance to have hands-on interaction with a variety of tablets and e-readers. In the library’s meeting room, 12 different devices are available to try out with a librarian on hand to explain their features and detail the differences between various devices.”

Digital Media Lab

The Skokie Public Library in Illinois “offers a digital media lab, a space with content creation tools that allow patrons to create and share video, music, photography, and design projects. Customers have access to computers with editing software, cameras, camcorders, microphones, and musical keyboards. Additionally, the Skokie media lab has a green screen wall for video projects.”

Technology help

According to the American Library Association, 35% of U.S. public libraries offer one-on-one technology and/or research help with library staff.

The New River Library branch of the Pasco County Library System in Florida has Teen Technology Tutors who receive volunteer hours by tutoring older adults (ages 50+) one-on-one in beginning computer tasks. And the George W. Covington Memorial Library in Mississippi offers “One-On-One Basic Computer Training For Visually Impaired (& Sighted) Individuals.”

“Redbox”-style library kiosks and outreach services

“In 2008, the Contra Costa County Library [in California] launched ‘Library-a-Go-Go,’ the first automated book dispensing machines in the country. The machines hold up to 400 books which can be browsed from a touch screen. The book dispensaries at available 24/7 and operate like ATM machines with a swipe of a library card to dispense books. Users can have up to three books checked out at a time and return the books to the Library-a-Go-Go machines.” According to the library, “The automated library vending machines have been successful in expanding a library’s presence into areas where they could not traditionally reach.”

The Carson City Library BranchAnywhere in Nevada “provides patrons at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada with access to current library materials, digital tools and librarian-educator programming. The secure automated library machine stores 240 items, handles loans, accepts returns, and connects to the library’s automated library system. Circulating items include hand-held electronic devises, DVDs, books, games and puzzles.” (Video)

The Free Library of Philadelphia has library “Hot Spots” that “bring computer access, classes, and the internet to neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. Hot spots can be found in Philadelphia churches, schools and non-profit organizations. Each Hot Spot includes computers, a printer, and all necessary broadband equipment, as well as a reference collection of Free Library materials.”

Mobile Apps and Websites

TheGoethe-Institut New York Library’s Mobile Augmented Reality App“allows learners to explore German cultural heritage in New York City using archival documents, photographs, and multimedia narratives to bring to life United States history. Using this technology, users are able to hold up their mobile phones and see archival photos layered on top of the images visible through the camera’s phone. In 2012, the American Library Association recognized the library for offering cutting-edge technologies in library services.”

TheCuyahoga County Public Libraryof Parma, Ohio “created CCPL Mobile, an exciting new mobile app that enhances the library patron experience by giving patrons access to the unprecedented convenience of checking out items using their smart phones. The free CCPL Mobile smartphone app features a Digital Books & Media channel that makes finding and downloading e-books and e-audiobooks from the library’s collection. In addition to using the app to renew and reserve items, patrons can also use the tool to find library branches and hours of operation. The library frequently hosts ‘technology petting zoos’ to teach patrons how to use the CCPL tool, e-readers and e-audiobooks in the downloadable collection.”

TheContra Costa County Library in California has a “Snap & Go” project that allows users with mobile phone to access various library services via scanned QR codes. “By reaching otherwise time-pressed users while they are waiting in public spaces (at bus stations and buses), the library has managed to stretch its resources even while budgets tighten. Codes on signs at the information desk open up a text message to a text-a-librarian number; staff respond to the texts within 10 minutes. Usage of the library’s mobile website is up 16 percent since the program was implemented. To overcome many people’s unfamiliarity with QR code technology, library staff created an online guide to ‘Snap & Go,’ which received 7,900 views during the project’s first year.”

“To help students keep pace with the fast-moving trend in e-books, online databases, and other digital learning tools, Boston College High School adopted a cell phone policy at the start of the school year which allows student to use their cell phones for research purposes in the library. Additionally, the school provides iPads for all faculty, as well as for students in grades 7-10. The mobile initiative aims to foster an understanding of how digital learning tools can enhance secondary student information literacy experiences.”

Customized reading recommendations

TheScottsdale Public Library in Arizona’s “Gimme Engine” mobile website “helps customers find a great book to read based on a library staffer’s recommendation and review. Gimme combines library catalog MARC data, content enrichment service images and descriptions, and library staff book reviews on Goodreads.com to create a unique experience. Gimme, which was developed with monies received from an LSTA grant, was created to meet a need stated by both library and non-library users; they wanted book recommendations powered by library staff. The Gimme engine is a creative solution to meet these customer needs.”

Online research assistance

According to the American Library Association, 70% of U.S. public libraries offer digital or virtual reference services.

At the Ohio State Library, “professional librarians are available to answer your reference questions and to assist you in finding information. The service is one of the busiest of its kind in the United States. Ohio residents can log on from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., for an online chat session. The librarian will share expertise and provide high-quality, authoritative web sites and online database resources via web addresses within the chat.”

The New York Public Library’s “ask a librarian” texting service, “Ask NYPL,” “is a virtual reference service of the New York Public Library that allows patrons to submit research questions to trained information specialists via phone, chat, email, and text. Every day, except Sundays and holidays, anyone, of any age, from anywhere in the world can reach the library via various methods, including by phone, text message, and online chat.”

Libraries as incubators and creation spaces

The Library as Incubator Project“highlights the ways that libraries and artists can work together, and works to strengthen these partnerships. At a time in which both libraries and arts organizations are often having to do more with less, it makes sense for these two parts of our culture to support each other. The Library as Incubator Project calls attention to one of the many reasons libraries are important to our communities and our culture, and provides a dynamic online forum for sharing ideas.”

Coordination with schools and literacy efforts

Several libraries and schools have programs where children read to dogs, such as the Fairfax Community Library’s “Read To A Dog” Program and the therapy dogs at the Princeton Public Library. (The Harriette Person Memorial Library in Mississippi even has Beanie Baby Reading Therapy!)

The First Regional Library System in Mississippi has online after-school tutoring, and the Pima County Public Library in Tucson, Arizona has live stage shows of favorite children’s books, called “Story Town.” “Staff, partners and volunteers create lively Story Town neighborhoods like Literacy Lane, Fairytale Trail, Book Walk, Downtown, and Art Alley where they make crafts, watch dance performances, and participate in storytimes and mini-workshops throughout the day.”

Other programs and services

Unique Library Collections

Musical Instrument Check-Out Program – Lopez Island (Wash.) Library

“The Lopez Island Library offers a collection of musical instruments available for patron checkout. All the items come with carrying cases, tuners, and how-to guides, and a practice amplifier for the electric guitar. The items circulate for 28 days, like other library items.”

“The LibraryFarm is an organic community garden on one-half acre of land owned by Northern Onondaga Public Library in Cicero, NY. Anyone can ‘check out’ a plot for no cost. Its purpose is to teach and learn ‘food literacy,’ as well as to preserve knowledge that our grandparents might have had but that never got passed down, and to provide fresh organic produce for local food pantries.”

Bi-Folkal Kits: “Older adults carry a rich history with them. Bi-Folkal Kits provide activity ideas and materials that allow older adults to reminisce and create connections with others. These kits, which can be checked out for two weeks at a time, focus on several different themes and can be adapted to inter-generational settings, religious groups, scouts, or schools.”

Book Clubs to Go

Brain Quest and Fandex Family Field Guides

Energy Meters for the home

Museum Adventure Pass

Music Tools

Park & Read Pass

Science to Go kit

Stories to Go: “Inside each is a collection of picture books, CDs or DVDs, and a resource folder of games and activities for young children all related to a theme.”

Other services

Health and Government Assistance

In Florida, “the Orange County Library System developed ‘Right Service at the Right Time,’ a sophisticated database-driven web application and virtual reference that connects people in need of government and non-profit public services with the appropriate public services.”

And in Arizona, “the Pima County Public Library offers on-site expert medical help, making the library the first in the nation to employ a public health nurse on site. The library nurse listens to the worries of the elderly, the unemployed and the homeless who turn to libraries for help and safety, and directs them to social services when appropriate.” (pdf)

“The San Francisco Public Library helps patrons prepare for the USCIS naturalization interview by offering guides to naturalization, detailed practice materials for the new citizenship exam, and a list of local organizations that can help you with the naturalization process.“ (link)

In Kansas, “the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library has been circulating magnifiers (hand-held, stand, illuminated, held like a cap on the head) for more than 35 years.” The library also has large type telephones; a machine that can enlarge newspaper print to 4 inches; memory kits for those with Alzheimers; and activity kits and games for Activity Directors, including a Karaoke Machine. The library also has a blood pressure machine, a scale, and portable exercise equipment (such as exercise balls) for checkout.

The Temecula Public Library in California “has developed new programming and created a resource center specifically for families with children on the autism spectrum by offering a new, monthly story time especially for two- to five-year-olds with special needs. The library created a ‘Play and Learn’ island, which is equipped with activities that have been proven to be entertaining to children on the autism scale, such as blocks, magnets, and other shapes. For parents of children on the autism scale, the library recently hosted a forum of autism experts who spoke about early identification and intervention of autism spectrum disorders.” (link)

In Alabama, the Homewood Public Library’s Leaps & Bounds early childhood movement program helps children develop gross motor skills.

“Fun & Funky” Library Services, by State

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Services offered at Pima County Public Library (Tucson, AZ):

Bookbike – “Using a specially-designed three-wheeled bicycle, library staff, Pima County Bike Ambassadors and volunteers ride throughout our community to visit people and give them free donated books, library cards, and information about library and literacy programs.”

Books on Wheels

The Catalyst Café program “brings people together each month to talk about technology and how it can serve individuals, neighborhoods, nonprofits and small business.”

CreateIT and iTNation programs give teens experience using various digital media software and allow them to teach introductory digital media classes to others.

Harry Potter Parties – According to the library, “after eight years, our library’s Harry Potter parties have become enormous community love letters to the boy wizard and his world from grandmas, teens, preschoolers, and everyone in-between. Party-goers come in costume to drink butterbeer, hear Harry and the Potters perform live, pose for photos, play wizard chess, and ride in the motorcycle sidecar with Hagrid. Attendance now nears 3,000 people.”

California

alt+library: “Our programming initiative designed for (but by no means limited to) people in their 20s and 30s. We’ve hosted Speed Dating and Speed Friending, Punk Rock Aerobics, Broke A$$ Holidays, and Herb Garden Mixology as well as many other unusual events.” (Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, CA)

Haunted history tour: “Library staff present stories of grizzly deaths from Sacramento’s past and a horror film is shown for those awaiting their turn on the tour.” (Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, CA)

Colorado

A librarian in the home: “This program sends librarians outside the library to the far reaches of their rural service area. Librarians are vetted and trained for this very specialized program, and often teach patrons on technology in their own living rooms.” (Poudre River Public Library District, Fort Collins, CO)

A birthday party (for a fish!): “The Library fish, Dewey and Decimal are extremely popular and most young patrons stop for a quick visit when they are in the Library. ‘Dewey’s Birthday Party’ attracts 100+ patrons every year and the children enjoy fish-related crafts, stories, decorations and birthday cake.” (Pikes Peak Library District, Pikes Peak, CO)

“The participatory library” – A program creating opportunities for people to interact with information. This ranges from learning how to make pie crusts, tie a scarf, make a geodesic dome, draw, paint, play the violin, make a video, etc. (Rangeview Library District, CO)

Florida

Jacksonville Public Library:

“Lost in the Stacks,” a one-hour weekly radio show, is done in partnership with the local NPR affiliate, WJCT. “DJs/librarians Andrew Coulon and Matthew Moyer play diverse selections from the library’s collection. Sometimes include local musicians and educators join Coulon and Moyer in the studio to select songs from the collection and share how these pieces have influenced their own lives.”

Home Energy Evaluation Kits – “To help residents save money on utility bills while helping the environment, the Jacksonville Public Library partnered with the local utility company (JEA) to circulate Home Energy Evaluation Kits – backpacks filled with tools to test the energy efficiency of homes. Over 1,300 kits were loaned in the first year.” (link)

Zines– The library “currently circulates a collection consists of over 1000 zines, self-published pamphlets of all sizes and shapes, often covering subjects overlooked in larger scale publications. The idea is to circulate and preserve alternative media resources that inspire readers to re-examine and learn from alternative and under-served voices that represent our community.” (link)

Oceanway Express Lockers “provide easy pick-up of library materials in an unserved part of the county through a system of electronic lockers accessible only by the customer that ordered the materials. Customers place holds on materials online or at another library and are able to pick up their materials at a convenient location near their homes, the Oceanway Community Center.” (link)

Teen Battle of the Bands - The winning band will receive 10 hours of recording time at Clear Track and $1,000 cash. (Pasco County Library System -event held at Shady Hills, Florida)

Iowa

Performers’ showcase: “Our library hosted a performers’ showcase where performers from throughout the state could come a do a 15 minute version of their show. We invited other libraries and any other organizations that book performers (nursing homes, etc.) and each performer had a table afterward where they could schedule shows with people. Performances were occurring all morning, and it was free and open to the public.” (Washington Public Library, Washington, IA)

Illinois

Museum passes (Chicago Public Library, Chicago, IL)

A farm-themed Early Learning Center, a children’s learning museum – “Maggie the milking cow is the focus of the room and is milked hundreds of times every day by children and adults. Everyone has fun learning about dairy products and then trying their hand at milking Maggie the cow. Maggie will be on display in the children’s department until November, when we will change the Early Learning Center exhibit to a new theme with new fun interactive learning opportunities.” (Waukegan Public Library, Waukegan, IL)

Indiana

Librarypalooza – Usually takes place during National Library Week. A big indoor “fair at the library, with giant games, bowling in the stacks, musical entertainment, storytellers, crafts, an ice cream bar, a Tech Petting Zoo, and more. (River Forest Public Library in River Forest, Illinois)

Kansas

“Coffee, Donuts & a Movie”: “At 9:30a.m. we offer this program to those who are interested. We provide the coffee & donuts and show a movie. The movies range from older classics to comedy to adventure to newer releases. Our audience consists of individuals who are retired to adults with developmental disabilities. During the summer months we try to show family related movies and some with bring their older children or grandchildren with them.” – Dodge City Public Library

Maine

Sports equiptment for check-out: “Our Library checks out basketballs to be used on the courts near the library. We also have frisbees, jump ropes and hacky sacks available to borrow. The balls have been replaced many times through the years and have resulted in much good will with the kids afterschool. When they (the kids!) start bouncing off the walls, we suggest they bounce a basketball instead. We don’t require a card, just something of value like a backpack, instrument, cell phone, laptop. This is never a problem because the kids are only too happy to off load their stuff and let us keep an eye on it.”

Montana

Early literacy / wildlife “trunks”: “The Montana State Library has developed a partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. The trunks, which we refer to as ‘Ready 2 Read Goes Wild,’ utilize the ‘Growing Up Wild’ curriculum with a focus on Montana wildlife. We have developed trunks that feature ungulates, bears, owls, creepy-crawlies, water, and tracks. Each of the trunks includes between 15 – 20 books on the subject, (both fiction and non-fiction); puppets; the Growing Up Wild curriculum guide; and wildlife resources, such as grizzly hides, elk antlers, deer hooves, a number of rubber tracks, skulls, and more. They proved to be immensely popular with libraries; there are now 30 of these trunks circulating throughout our state. They circulate just like any library material but are especially popular with teachers and early childhood educators. Additionally, MT FWP staff works with libraries across the state to provide programming in libraries on MT animals.” There is a short video about the program here.

Winter Farmers and Crafters Market – Farmers’ Market at library once per month. Locally made products, such as artisanal cheeses and honey from farmers and works of many craftspeople, are available for purchase.

Ohio

“Edible books” at Worthington Library (Ohio): Participants make an object out of food that represents a book. The objects are then judged and eaten.

Oregon

Wildlife talks: “We have ponds and walking trails behind one of our library branches – so we have partnered with the local Audubon Society and another nature group, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, to lead walks and talk about wildlife and birds you see along the way.” (Hillsboro Public Library, Hillsboro, Oregon)

From the Ashland Branch Library of the Jackson County Library Services:

Owl Pellets – A presentation on owls where the kids and adults take apart owl “pellets” to see what they have eaten and digested.

Legos Sundays – Lego-building, with a theme (castles, bridges, etc.)

Naked Came the Rogue: a Serial Mystery set in Southern Oregon’s Jackson County – a serial mystery book, written by 9 local authors, based on librarians helping to solve the mystery of the dead bodies popping up in or near some local libraries.

Frankentoys – the teens took old stuffed animals and sewed new heads and body parts, added decorations, etc.

Portland Public Library:

FAFSA and resume help for Teens

Lectures in the Art Gallery

Dance, theater and music performance in our glass atrium to be viewed from the public square outside

Vermont

Virginia

Time travelers: “A children’s librarian at one of our libraries has a program where he goes back in time, kidnaps historical people, brings them back to the library, asks them a few questions then sends them home. The kids get a little history lesson and lots of laughs.” (Henrico County Public Library, Glen Allen, Virginia)

Online E-Resources Scavenger Hunt: “The Library of Virginia and Credo Reference . . . partnered together to create a set of questions that take users through a virtual adventure, where points are earned and research know-how is accumulated. Those that successfully make it to the end of the mission even receive a printable certificate acknowledging the online trek.” (Library of Virginia and Credo Reference)

Wisconsin

Puking Pumpkins: “Choose your pumpkin, carve a face, and THEN create a chemical reaction causing your pumpkin to PUKE! This program is geared for children in 1st-6th Grade.” (Lester Public Library Two Rivers, WI)

Coupon donation and exchange: Patrons bring in coupons they don’t need or want, and exchange them for ones that they do need. “There is also a box for expired coupons which are sent to military families overseas. They can use coupons that are up to six months out-of-date.” (Ladysmith Public Library, Ladysmith, WI)

About this blog

Libraries in the Digital Age is updated and maintained by the staff of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center. The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan "fact tank" that provides information on the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does so by conducting public opinion polling and social science research; by reporting news and analyzing news coverage; and by holding forums and briefings. It does not take positions on policy issues.